“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow” - Melody Beattie
As we enter the month that we celebrate our blessings – THANK YOU for all you are doing to create impact, extend our reach, engage your members, and adapt in the process. The journey is more vibrant with YOU on it. A couple weeks ago, my journey was blessed with a stop at Rotary Headquarters to continue our visioning and engage in fellowship. When you are given the opportunity to sit in the “seat” where is all happens with RI President, Gordon, you say YES, quickly followed by THANK YOU. Rotary is at the top of my blessings always. I hope it is for you as well.
(Pictured: Governor Michelle McGrath, along with fellow Rotarians and RI President Gordon McInally at the RI Headquarters.)
November is Foundation Month. I have been blessed to take part in the Ghana Feminine Hygiene Project in my home club and most recently, to see firsthand TRF dollars at work in Croatia thanks to our Beloit Club. To see the enthusiasm in the eyes of the Croatian children as they engaged in coding brought so much joy to my heart. The Rotary Foundation makes these amazing projects happen and creates an abundance of hope in the process. What is your "Foundation Story?" Do you have an experience to share that was made possible by TRF? Telling your story can inspire others to get involved, either through participating in grants or donating to the foundation. Service is what Rotary is about and service is made possible by the Foundation.
As we reflect on the good we’ve done together, we're so grateful for the generosity of all of you. We’re grateful to everyone in District 6250 for supporting our Annual Fund, which enables Rotary members to keep making a difference by improving people’s health, supporting high-quality education, protecting the environment, and alleviating poverty.
Shifting to another topic but one that certainly contributes to our Foundation Giving - and that topic is Membership! Expanding our reach is a priority for our district and clubs and our membership numbers reflect that! We are currently at 2,379 members, up 7 members from our year end number this past June. I am also excited to share that we have a new chair, Marc Augsburger, a proud member of our Edgerton Club. Look for more on membership coming soon!
Hope is certainly on the horizon! Thank you for being the curators of such impactful work.
Michelle McGrath, Ed. D
D6250 Governor
RY 2023-2024
ri President gordon R. Mcinally
NOVEMBER 2023 MESSAGE
Rotary and Bahçeşehir University are establishing a new peace center in Istanbul to support peacebuilding in the Middle East and North Africa. Recruitment for the first cohort of Rotary Peace Fellows begins in 2024, with selected candidates starting their program in early 2025. Rotary's peace centers program has prepared over 1,700 peace fellows worldwide, who have gone on to create positive change. The new Rotary Peace Center at BAU will offer a one-year certificate in peace and development studies for fellows focusing on peacebuilding in the Middle East and North Africa region. Rotary members can encourage local peacebuilders to apply, mentor candidates, or financially support the peace centers.
A letter addressed to Rotary and non-Rotary sponsors
By: Isha Paudel
You know how they say that college is a place where you learn more about life than academia? Reflecting upon this past semester, I learnt more about being an adult and life rather than academia. Following my return from Nepal. I started my first-ever professional role/job as a Test Engineer Co-op with Trane Technologies. It was an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow as the job presented unique challenges. Continue reading here
Introducing Coding and Digital Literacy to Young Students in Croatia
by:William L. Beckley
This is a story of how one person can make a difference and how Rotary is making a huge difference in communities across the world. Read more
The Rotary Foundation: Impact and Engagement
By: Erin Luken
November is Foundation Month, so you might be expecting the District Rotary Foundation Chair to ask you to make a donation to the Annual Fund (yes!), sign up for Rotary Direct (so easy!), or contribute to Polio Plus (we're almost there!). I could remind everyone that November 28th is Giving Tuesday, a perfect day to make a contribution to The Rotary Foundation. Instead, I'd like to challenge every club and every Rotarian in District 6250 to participate in the programs and grants that your generous gifts to The Rotary Foundation make possible. Clubs that participate in grants are able to drive engagement, strengthen their presence, and make a meaningful impact in their community. Read on for seven ways in which TRF grants can boost engagement for Rotary clubs and the communities they serve. Read more here
Taking a lesson from Taylor Swift'
No, not a singing lesson…a public relations lesson. Taylor Swift is a masterful performer,
a brilliant businesswoman, and spectacularly skillful at relationships with her fans and listeners.
So, what is her blueprint?
Stay authentic.
Share values.
Impart messages that resonate.
Advocate for issues that matter to your listeners.
This is a plan we can all follow. It’s simple, straightforward, and easy to understand.
Is it time for a little inspiration as we approach the middle of the Rotary year?
If you follow Taylor’s four steps to remind your club members what you do and why
and then share with the wider world your results will sparkle like she does when the spotlight shines on her.
How a small Rotary Club had an impact on the fight against this enduring disease.
The Idea: Hold a World’s Greatest Meal at the weekly meeting of the Fitchburg Verona Horizons Rotary Club. (https://wgmeal.org/) Because everybody eats and Rotarians gather around food.
The Invitation: Ask the Co-chair of the District’s Fight to End Polio Committee, Randy Sproule, to be the program for October.
The Offer: When Randy learned that he was part of our World’s Greatest Meal, he surprised us with an offer to match our pledges dollar-for-dollar up to $2000.
The Response: Randy’s powerful and personal presentation resulted in $755 from fewer than 10 of 23 members present. Following the meeting the club President sent an email with the offer to all members and more pledges poured in. The total reached $2450.
The Result: A small club of 23 members created a donation of more than $13,000 to help end polio.
To learn more about Worlds Greatest Meal find them on Facebook or visit their website here.
Lynn Perez-Hewitt
President-Elect
Fitchburg Verona Horizon Rotary Club
Wisconsin District 6250 Delegation Visits Croatia 1913
by: Linda Olson
Changing their lives forever, a group of 11 Rotarians, friends & spouses from throughout District 6250 traveled this past September to District 1913 in Croatia for an unforgettable Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) outbound adventure. This RFE was the culmination of relationships formed between the two districts when they executed a Global Grant sponsored by the Rotary Club of Beloit which increased digital literacy of school children in Croatia. Read more here
Rotary Friendship Exchange "To the Tulip Bulbs"
By: Edwin Bos
This will be a non-reciprocating, "mini-exchange" with the Rotary Club Uithuizen – het Hoogeland in the Netherlands. This club is the host of the annual "To the Tulip Bulbs" hiking, biking and touring fundraiser that will be taking place on Saturday April 27, 2024. This club was also the lead international partner on the La Crosse Mobile Clinic Global Grant; helping secure the participation of several Dutch clubs in that project. Read more here
kes these amazing projects happen and creates an abundance of hope in the process. What is your "Foundation Story?" Do you have an experience to share that was made possible by TRF? Telling your story can inspire others to get involved, either through participating in grants or donating to the foundation. Service is what Rotary is about and service is made possible by the Foundation.
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